Fab & Glam @ 40
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Posted:Apr 15, 2011 10:35 pm
Last Updated:Feb 22, 2012 3:17 pm 16950 Views
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I turned 40 this year...what a miles stone ei!!!...
I have always wanted a huge party as in huge party on my 40th. But then I know it will be so impossible to host one here in London as it will be very costly. We have decided that the family will travel to the US and thats all it is.
I was scheduled to go home last December. My sister who's based in Atlanta decided to go home finally for Christmas after 10yrs. Of course my other family on the side of the world (New Zealand) was so jealous that they decided to ditched the US trip and go home instead in Manila for a grand reunion. Then that triggers me to go for the party.
As early as July I was so decided that thats what exactly I am going to do. After consultation about dates they will be in Manila...the perfect date was set...6th of January...not my actual bday but then again so be it.
I have a twin brother so that means dividing the number of guests accordingly...we eventually decided to go for gold  and have a 100 people to attend....my family and relatives will probably half the number hahahaha
Then the search for perfect party venue started. Google search in a major major way...I managed to find venues after venues...asking my sister back home in Manila for occular visit. August came I still dont have any venue. Until I saw this place in QC...perfect...but the people treated me badly and they were not professional. Hidden charges one after the other...and the worst is giving me the wrong venue to use..I just gave them a finger and ditched them...the search continues...google search...events place in QC...Light of Love Events Place...I was hesitant to open the page as I thought its a Praise the Lord thingy...very cheesy name for a venue...web page immpressive...made an enquiry and people were nice and helpful...occular vist done...my sis said...PERFECT!!!!!!...done the deal and venue was sorted...
Next stop...caterers...well one good news is they have couple of caterers who sort of like worked for them...eventually I went to hire the services of Hizon...well thanks to Thet (ewankodinsayo) who suggested me about it. Deal was done and all they are waiting for is my arrival in Manila and details will be discussed.
Invites and party themes...I always wanted a Strictly Formal (Black Tie in British English) Event. I asked a good friend whos talent in graphics design is unquestionable...he gave me 4 different design and eventually settle for a more simpler yet glamorous invite...A&M our initials (Anthony and Mark)...its always been the other way around so I decided to changed it even for one...besides i am the one bloody paying for all of it...hahaha...then my best friend who's based in Baguio (thanks to his personalized shop) was the one who printed my invite....as a gift...whew!!!...its postcard type invite...Save the date was sent to friend on facebook...and the final/formal invite came on the later date.
Cakes....thanks to Thet...she gave me the details of her supplier...Joy San Gabriel. Emails were sent and consultation will be done once I will arrived in Manila. December came and finally I was home...contacts were done..my gosh the time to see her is only from 8-10am as she was busy...no choice but to sleep in the car while travelling to her place...surprisingly near my venue. She was very lovely and very hands-on inside her kitchen. Evenutally setteled for 80pcs of short cakes in 2 flavours...and a blooming 100 dozen of fresh red roses...bloody hell!!!...I almost passed out when she told me...I just said GO!!!...deal was done and I shook her hands...but she bargained if I can have a good deals on flowers I might as well do it myself...eventually my best friend who is printing my invite from Baguio got me a really really good deal for that 100 dozes of red roses and went to a bus terminal to pick it up..that easy...by the way...my eldest sister and her family half the cost of the cake...yeheyyyyyyy
What to wear...of course I will go for the classic tux and bow tie minus the cumberband...design search one after the other...eventually i saw the perfect design...a classic Armany design...copy and printed and sent to Manila...thanks to our uber excellent family friend who is a tailor...December came and consultation was made and I managed to choose the cloth and the perfect lining...yet again he made a perfect tux for me and you will never believe how much it cost me...super cheap....my two sisters paid for all our tux...yeheyyyyyyyyy
BAck to catering services...eventually I manged to meet the party organizer herself. Since the affair is formal...I decided to go for the classic Red and Gold. Gold table cloth...a simple center table piece of red roses...table napkins folded in scroll style in red color with a black ring holder....thanks to the inspiration I saw in one of the magazine...perfect!
Photo and Video...at first I only wanted to have a photo service thats all. Thet and Russell a couple who met in this site decided to put up their own Photography Business...she eventually said she will cover the event for free as part of her gift....sorted...but one of my brother gave me a complete video and photo coverage of the party...yeheyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...good thing is Thet was very understanding...now I have no idea if thats the reason why she eventually didnt attend my party.
Champagne Reception...I brought this English tradition in the Philippines...good thing there are loads of wine sellar in Manila and managed to get good deals on MOET Champagne...ice tea for non drinkers...and Red Wine only for alcoholic beverages....guess I was lucky I managed to get a really really good deald on HARDYS SHIRAZ...rented flute glasses for the champagne reception...champagne reception started at 7pm and dinner was served 8pm.
Tarpaulin was a bday gift from one my best friend....it was huge as in huge...its like an Oscar red carpet event kind of tarpaulin...perfect for picture taking.
6th of January...the party in full swing..family and relatives came...this party was a reunion of sorts...from my relatives...to our personnal friends...to my own sets of friends to my twin borther's...from Elementary and High School and University friends...it was perfect....of course few people sang...we came from a family of singers so there you go...of course me and my twin brother performed and eventually the most awaited duet...thanks Tita Julia Gubot (kikidee) who graced the event and perform...it was one hell of a party i will never ever forget for the rest of my life.
For those interested to see the party pictures...pls go to facebook and search for Tonee Polines...my account is not on private mode dont worry. For those people interested to get details of my suppliers...I am so willing and able to give it to you all...specially my tailor.
Well as the saying goes...life begins at 40...my new chapter in life has just begun...I may have celebrated my bday like a debutant or a wedding banquet...but if you want to begin your life...you need to do it in style...
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La Doritos
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R E T U R N I N G
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Posted:Apr 14, 2011 6:18 pm
Last Updated:Apr 17, 2011 5:30 pm 17509 Views
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Wow...I didnt realized that the last time I wrote an entry here was a year ago or so already. I have totally forgotten this site for a while. Maybe because it wasnt the same thing as it used to. Maybe because I feel like a total stranger again...maybe I can count a handful of people who are still (amazingly) active on this site.
So why the comeback????...well thanks to this person who was special to me and whom I have met here on this site. I suddenly remembered the person and on the process brought me back to where it all started...here on FFF.
Things are the same...visited the chatroom and suprisingly saw few people who all this years...still actively chatting...good for them...
Sadly the groups I joined are now dying slowly...one group has only 1 member..the other has 4 and almost nothing to the other...and i was left with a question...what the hell happened????!!!...well as if I dont know the answer...it is because of people like me who abandoned the group...gosh now I am feeling all so guilty...but not with the other group as I did try my best to campaign and even took my way to really revive the group...but I guess the interest were not really there anymore...maybe I could start up a new group then...who knows.
Well there are so many things that happened to me for the last year....but I will share it again on my next blog...for now...I guess I just have to leave you with this words...
La Doritos is back...
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...let's play the lying game...
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Posted:Mar 5, 2010 1:59 pm
Last Updated:Apr 14, 2011 6:04 pm 16879 Views
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Surely lying is one thing we are all so good at..be it a small
one or big in your eyes or in someone else's eye.
Now...tell me what was the worst lie you have ever said...worst
because it kinda bounced back on you or you were busted...
Then your best lie ever...of course you managed to get away
from it...
So lets tell the truth for once...
This is the script on the topic I posted on the magazine section of this site. Then I was taken a back when a chatter shared a story of her life how lying turn her life and the people around her completely upside down.
On contemplation...truly lying can bring different sort of results to our life and the people around us.
Lying is something we can never get away with. It is always there and not anyone of us will be spared not to commit this thing called lying.
I hope in this mistakes, we were not able to really hurt someone or more so ourselves and if ever...asking forgiveness is hell not always late...but it will always takes a lot of courage to admit it.
Best of luck to all of you reading this blog.
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...let's talk about needles...
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Posted:Mar 4, 2010 11:28 am
Last Updated:Apr 15, 2011 10:44 pm 17096 Views
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So this blog is an inspiration from a blog written by "frozenflower"...so she was talking about her recent trip to he hospital for a diagnostic procedure that involves needles..how she hated it and how she felt about it....so now..lets talk about needles.
Of course if I say...are you good with needles?...most of you will say NO!...but luckily there are brave ones who say...I am ok as long I dont get to see them...fine...then don't look and makes my job easy....but very luckily there are some people who are just COULDN'T BE BOTHER ME!!!...this are the person that no matter how many needles you stick to them???...they are just fine...oh and suddenly I rialized his/her whole body was covered with tattoos and piercing...ok...needle friendly ei!!!
On a day to day basis...I get to see patient in the clinic an average of 20 in a 12hrs shift. 16 of them will have a blood test done. So imagine me pricking 16 people on a day to day basis...its small in number actually coz believe me...in some area..its even double or tripple than my number. Now what I am trying to say here is that, I managed to get to see different reactions by people about needles and blood.
It is always true that there are good hands and bad hands. The good hands they said are those hands who can make you fall asleep when they are cutting your hair or massaging your head. The best part is, the almost painless injection ever. The bad hand are all but opposite of the good hands. Fortunately for me without swell headed...most of my patients will say I have a good hands. In fact the wife of Collin Firth said my hands are like the hands of a fairy...o diba...
But needles are needles...there will surely be a certain amount of pain when it hit you. The only thing to make it as pleasant as possible for you is to relax, easy to say but really try to relax and not panick...coz when you dont relax, your muscle will be tensed and the more it will be painful for you.
I am not encouraging anyone of you to be a needle friendly...as long as you use it in a good way....is there any good use at all??? hahaha....damn what am I talking about...anyways...forget it...needles are needle...full stop.
So tell me...you ok with needles???...
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A Year Older
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Posted:Feb 4, 2010 4:26 am
Last Updated:Aug 19, 2010 12:14 pm 17298 Views
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...so how does it feel to have another year added in our life???...
...you feel sad specially thinking, bloody hell i am getting older...we just have to quickly slap our face and say "get real hun as it is inevitable"...then you wake up in reality and reward yourself by saying...i am fabulous at my age...o di ba!!!
...its a pressure getting a year older as people expect you to be much wiser.
...you are thankful and you started to count all your blessings for the entire time you were alive...thankful to your Creator, your family and friends.
...you contemplate on the things that happened to you a year prior...and even try to make a commitment to change or even better your perspective in life.
...you start to make wishes...that you will remain healthy, bless and be happy.
...you actually tried to push more of your luck by being specific to all your wishes...say...good health (so i can still able to work harder not only for me but for my family I support, for those you sent to school, be able to help people in need of your help.
...then you continue wishing...more blessings to come / more birthdays to come. its like saying you don't die the next day as you wanted to receive more blessings....but we never ask more failures...lolzz...wonder if anyone ever really wished that.
...then you thought of being happy...that is one wish you always have...be happy...when you are in a relationship...you wished that your love life will bloom more. when you are single and loveless you wish for a love life to come...that is a very nifty idea.
...but the best of all is you celebrate...celebrate the special day. we all celebrate in a different way...guess we speak about culture and financial situations hahaha...but the latter i guess is pretty obvious ei!.
...but more than anything...we just want o have fun on that day and treat that day extra special.
Yesterday the 3rd of Feb was my special day. I was everything I have described. More than anything I really just wanted to have a good and pleasant day. Which I did and the celebration will not stop there. Had an early one...a day trip in Paris. Yesterday was pleasantly quiet with lunch and 2 dinners with different people. Saturday is musical night, will be watching Avenue Q then Sunday the most awaited come back of yours truly on karaoke stage yehheeeyy!!!...would be fun.
And what did I give myself this year for a present???...a new bag and a new scarf...don't ask how much coz when I bought them...I closed my eyes and I simply said...Tonee happy birthday...you deserve beautiful and expensive things...hahahaha!!!!
And lastly...I am thankful for all my family and friends who remembered my special day and took an effort to greet me. Thank you all very much.
39yrs...what an adventure of a lifetime and I am still excited with whats the future holds for me...Father God..you are always good all the time...many thanks for all the many blessings.
Tonee xxx
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Year End Report
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Posted:Jan 9, 2010 4:51 am
Last Updated:Feb 20, 2010 12:32 am 16890 Views
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I just saw a patient at my clinic an hour ago and it was funny coz I didnt really realized it was the 9th of January. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was so gaga doing my xmas shopping and the new year...damn!!!...maybe because my environment seems to be just the same...cold...gloomy and freeezing and snowy...
Then suddenly I realized...wow...another year really has just passed and a new year...now what?..then I thought...gosh!!!...what a year is 2009 for me...now lets see what happened to me 2009.
Early 2009 there was a big snow fall in London after how many decades...It was in time for my birthday and I could be blame as I have wished for it lolzz..but yep...I must say I had fun that day. But walking in the snow knee deep isnt funny at all...specially if you are on your way to work.
It seems everything is easy and the right place...month of May I started a new job...same hospital but a new job...great and it was fantastic and loving it more at this time.
July...summer came...ahhh the annual BPCH Summer PArty at the posh Kensignton Roof Gardens....my PRADA suit is all ready and dry cleaned....then suddely...I was awakened by a knock on my door and was arrested and hand cuffed...all of a sudden I was being charged of fraud. My confidence has been knocked out again. After 6yrs it is coming back again..the time I was bullied...the time I had depression. I need to fight back and not to go down that road again...with the help of my solicitor...we faught...happy to hear that after almost 6months...the case was finally close and I WAS FUCKIN INNOCENT!!!...yeah baby!!!...they need to pay me back...for all the emotional and psycholigical incovience they gave me....but mind you...after coming out from that police station...I still managed to party and able to wear that PRADA suit. But the trauma that I got out of that arrest...priceless...something I will never ever forget...that is the only time I have ever been arrested and hand cuffed and was sent to jail...sadly I am law abiding citizen my friends....haayyy...well its finally over and I am just over the moon.
September I was enjoying myself in New Zealand...3 weeks and I had the greatest time of my life. Eventually I have decided I will be moving there...yep...watch this space.
A week after I arrived from New Zealand...came the devastating tragedy that put the Philippines in the eyes of the world. Typhoon Undoy hit Manila...I was supposed to have a high school reunion that night...all I can do is cry helplessly whilst watching and listening to whats going on around me. My nephew's house were devastated by the typhoon....my other nephew who is like my was stucked somewhere...and good thing a family asked him to stay inside their house...actually the water level inside their house is knee deep. Gosh I couldnt sleep that night, and i was just thankful that our place is too high to experience those flooding.
Next thing I do...I gather my sister and my nephews to buy as much as relief goods we can for them and for their immediate in laws...it was simple yet it was a big deal for them. I send emails and phone my other siblings to send money for my nephew as his sari-sari store was all gone as well. money came almost at the same time and eventually we manged to restore my nephews place. Cleaning here and there and everywhere...whew!!!...
Mid October I was back in the UK. Seems quiet and a lot of cathing up with work mates, staff, surgeons and friends. My facebook is updated with my status.
Came November...I had a chest pain at work...went to ER and has ECG and Chest Xray..only to be told few days later I have a tumor in my Left Lungs. I was shaken...literally...I have to endure the sleepless nights for a week for the awaited CT Scan and wait how extensive the tumor is. Monday came...CT scan was performed. 6pm I went to see my Doctor...he said...ITS NORMAL...CT SCAN OF YOUR CHEST IS NORMAL....NO TUMOR...I nearly fainted. Went to the Hospital who missed diagnosed me. gave the hard copy of my CT scan...made a formal complaint...they sent me a letter and letters and letters and letters...had another chest xray with 2 Surgeons and 2 Radiologist with me. They compared the previous to the new one...almost the same...but it was misinterpreted....I am still waiting for that fucking compensation. Yeah, you dont want to be told you are dying when you are not!!!...bloody hell.
December came...my friend had a civil aprtnership to his long time boyfriend. Christmas was amazing...had Noche Buena with my best friend. New year????...I live in the 15th floor and over looking the London eye, where the center for fire works for the New Year...its like Time Square...plans suddenly cancelled one after the other...my ending???...I chose to celebrate on my own with my bottle of red wine and some food. Plus it was freeeeeezzzzziiinnnggggg and snowing outside.
Well...so many things happened with me...one thing I am certain is that God loves me so much...that no matter how many times my confidenceis being tested...He is always there to guide me and carry me.
A New Year and a new start...I can't wait to see whats instore for me this year...and I kinda started my year with a bang already...
Was in a party...couple of my gay friends were there...one of my gay friend's boyfriend came and joined in our conversation and eventually not realizing it...we have been chatting almost all night just him and me...suddenly...I heard a scream...my friend was calling me desperate that even his boyfriend I will not spare. It was so loud that almost all the visitors came out...he acted like a I will give him what a needs...a good old parent scolding...I just said...I know I dont have a boyfriend but dont fucking call me desparate just because your boyfriend decided to have a chat with me. Grow up for fuck sake...this is so much for friendship!!!..then I left...the following day I was told...the boyfriend dumped my friend....well...what comes around goes around...karma!
Thanks for taking time to read and best wishes to you and good health always.
Tonee x
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i am scared!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted:Nov 26, 2009 9:39 am
Last Updated:Aug 19, 2010 12:15 pm 17701 Views
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So one one of my female Surgeon said to one of my colleagues that she lovesssss me so much as I am such a nice person, very very smart and looks absolutely neat and smells soooo good. Then she said...I will really introduced him to a lot of my SINGLE FEMALE friends who's looking for a boyfriend. DENG!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!! how come she doesnt know that I AM GAY??????????!!!!!!!!!!!...oh bless her. Now I know her...when she said she is going to do it she will...I think I'd rather meet her bwahahahahaa!!!!!!...wonder what will be her reaction if she knew I am GAY...
and my colleague???? she nearly passed out
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Gross Negligence
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Posted:Nov 12, 2009 11:15 am
Last Updated:Apr 15, 2011 11:09 pm 17769 Views
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....a follow up to my previous blog titled Cancer scare...
So for couple of days I was wallowing and trying to be brave and face the reality. I was trying to step forward and sometimes bloody over react...yu can't blame me coz I can feel there really is something wrong...had i dont have this constant pain in my left side of my chest then I will surely laugh at the chest xray report saying I have a tumour.
So finally the word spread so quick that most of my consultants were alarmed. Saturday was such a distressfull day for me. Thats when everything hits me. The concerns and the sudden change in my environment...I thought...bloody hell they are showing so muich pity to me....I just ball and was almost on the floor in tears...thats when I showed how vulnerable I was.
Prayer intentions was given and said before me. I was immediately scheduled to have a CT Scan the following Monday. The day came and I was so composed...my colleagues and friends were very cahrming offering if I needed company...which I reluctantly beg off. Eventually CT scan was done. Just have to wait for few hours till I get the final report. My clinic was busy but by 4pm my heart was just pounding with and amalgamation of aniticipation and fear and whatever feeling is it.
6pm I was inside my repiratory Specialist Consultant, an irish guy who is absolutely an excellent doctor but a very grumpy one at times. We have our moments together of shouting and what have you...but we remain friends. Then the Radiologist Mr. Padly came, 2 of my other Surgeon friends came...this time I was ready to cry and my heart is pounding so much that I thought at one time my heart is just gonna jump outside my body.
Then the inevitable came..,Dr. O'Connor said...CT scan is CLEAR...I asked him to repeat what he said...he then said again...CT SCAN IS CLEAR...NO TUMOUR...LUNGS ARE CLEAR...then suddenly i can hear Mr. Padley saying it took me 4x to review the films/slides to make sure I am seeing and reporting the right one. 2 of my Surgeon friends testified that they have seen it as well....its clear...the pain that I am complaining is more muscular and pluerisy...defenitely NO TUMOUR!!!!!!...
OMG!!!!!!!!! super dooper many many thanks for that!!!!!!!!....I AM CANCER AND TUMOUR FREE!!!!!!!!!!....
Now the worry is the wrong report. My film might have been interchanged with someone or it was a case of bad reporting. BAD????....its bloody TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!....imagine my dilemma for couple of days...I was all scared and all alone...gosh!!!...how can someone be able to work and make this GROSS MISTAKES!!!!!!!!??????!!!!!!!!!....I couldnt believe it.
WOW!!!...what an experience...Jesus Christ...the sleepless nights, the worry and all...wow...but absolutely Praise God for this.
For all the friends here and those i do not know really...who prayed for me...maraming maraming salamat...truly when a lot of people are praying together God hears the plea well. Salamat ng marami and I will never forget this in my entire existence.
But the beauty of it is that I managed to quit smoking...
Lets all enjoy life to its fullest!!!
God Bless you all.
Tonee x
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...CANCER scare????...
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Posted:Nov 5, 2009 1:34 pm
Last Updated:Jan 9, 2010 2:53 am 17515 Views
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Almost a week ago I suffered from a chest pain and was rushed to AE (ER for some)...all my ECG's are normal...my chest xray???...normal...it was more of plueritic pain or muscle pain...haayyyy...thank God!!!
Last Tuesday I was at work and I got this call from my GP...I need to see them ASAP and have another repeat chest xray...obviously there is something wrong with my chest xray that Friday but wasn't picked up that soon.
So yesterday (Wednesday) I went to see my GP...I knew I am going to received a bad news...my guess were...chest infection...or something at least severe than that...well I was wrong...thats when they told me they found a well circumscribe mass (tumor) on my left lung sitting just on top of my atrium (heart)...suddenly my world just crushed....a tumor...wow!!!
I know I am a smoker but I have been one for 20yrs or less...but hey...still I am a smoker...first thing I did when I went out of the clinic was...had a cigarette...but I was fucking sick to my gut...I tried to finish one stick but I was so nauseated...I screamed and let it all out right there and then...
Wow a tumor...as I was all alone in my flat I did a lot of contemplation...I know its too early to panicked but it's all natural...I have spoken with my family and explain my situation. I am waiting to see another Doctor for a series of blood test and a CT scan. My health insurance is ok and I am fully covered. I've looked at the possibilities of treatments, and they are very promising...I phoned our Operating Theatre (Operating Room for some) and apparently we have 2 great Surgeons who does a scope/keyhole procedure which is much much better than the traditional open surgery...I was assured by the greatness of these Surgeons...and one of them in particular was the first name that popped in my head...so he is now on my list if ever...need to plan ahead....thats me...always anticipating everything. And if ever there is really nothing wrong???...then its fine...at least I am ready and I will not be taken off guard.
Benign or malignant...whatever tumor/mass is this...I am ready...motivation???...I need to be alive for my parents...whom I love so much...and I just have a plan for them...that I will be home with them and be with them in New Zealand...that I will spend more time with them. I need to be alive for this two little boys that I am sending to school. They are my precious little ones and I cant afford to be sick. I need to be alive for myself...I still got so many plans and dreams and places to see...I need be alive...as simple as it is.
For everything, I know God has a purpose...maybe Father God wanted me to be really healthy and ready for my imminent move to New Zealand. That if this mass/tumor will not be detected earlier, it will cost me not be able to be accepted in NZ...then what will happen with my plan of joining my family there?...that just like any cancer...early detection is better rather than late.
Smoking????...I havent had since that moment I left at my GP...and I am fine the whole day today...not even gagging for it or whatever...surely it will be difficult in the coming days but we will see....motivation motivation...thats all I need...I will just have to focus on that tumor sitting on my Lungs...i think thats enough reason to be nauseated with the idea of having another stick.
Anyways, if it's not too much...can I ask you to say a silent prayer for me...anything you want to tell God...will be appreciated. many many tnx for the time you spent reading this and most specially the prayer. God Bless.
Tonee x
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